AL, BNP squeeze govt to end emergency soon

The two major political camps set aside their see-saw rivalry Wednesday to put a squeeze on the military-backed interim administration to end emergency rules sooner rather than later. BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain and senior Awami League leaders aired that demand that went in stark contrast to the chief election commissioner's recent preference for lifting the emergency two months before the general elections. CEC ATM Shamsul Huda Tuesday said he would like an end to the emergency rules two months ahead of the next elections scheduled for end-2008—sometime between October and December, to be precise. Both camps Wednesday stood for a clear "political context" for free and credible vote.